Arsène Wenger has described Gervinho as one of the best Premier League
signings of the year, but admitted that he spoke with the Ivory Coast
forward on Friday about his lack of goals.

Gervinho is keeping Arsenal's record signing, Andrei Arshavin, out of the team but his contributions have divided fan opinion, with his highly effective build-up play being marred by so many missed chances.

Wenger said that Gervinho was “desperate” to add to his tally of just two goals so far this season and expressed his confidence that the issue will resolve itself.

“At the moment, Gervinho is a fantastic provider but he creates space for the other players because he always goes behind,” said Wenger. “The problem with Gervinho is he is in the opposite position of Robin van Persie. He is desperate for a goal.

“You could see the other night he had the chance to score, but started to think. When you start to think, you are already finished. For the rest, I’m personally very happy with his game. His attitude, his work rate, his technical quality and the intelligence of his runs are absolutely fantastic.

“His goalscoring record was good last year and this year is a bit less but his assists are fantastic and, in every single game, you think he will score. He just misses a little bit but that will come.”

Gervinho wasted particularly clear goalscoring chances in the games over the past week against Borussia Dortmund and Norwich, with Wenger deciding on Friday morning to talk to him about the situation.

“For a long time you don’t talk about it, but at some stage you have to say ‘don’t worry — try to be natural’,” said Wenger. “I spoke to him about that, but he is not obsessed with scoring goals. It will come naturally.”

The performances of Gervinho, who cost only £10.5 million from Lille, have certainly helped mitigate the £24 million sale of Samir Nasri to Manchester City. Indeed, with both Van Persie and Theo Walcott in the best form of their careers, Wenger is delighted by the attacking variation of his three forwards.

Other than the missed chances, the only blot for Gervinho was the red card on the opening day of the season against Newcastle following his fracas with Joey Barton.

“He has settled very quickly,” added Wenger. “He got sent off in the Newcastle game for a mild reaction after being provoked by Barton. He got the learning process of three games out. The intensity of the challenges here is higher than anywhere else but he adapted. They love to interchange up front. All three can play in all of the positions.

“That gives you more flexibility and more opportunities to be dangerous because they can make runs diagonally.”

Wenger admitted to “concern” at the loss of Gervinho for around a month because of the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on Jan 21 next year.

“They [the players] take all the Fifa dates and, on top of that, they go for the African Nations Cup so you lose them two weeks before the competition starts,” said Wenger. “Sometimes the weather conditions are completely different. When they come back, they look really exhausted. I always give them extra time off when they come back.”

As well as Gervinho, Arsenal will lose Morocco forward Marouane Chamakh for the Africa Cup of Nations but it is significant that Alex Song’s Cameroon team failed to qualify.

Wenger stressed that Arshavin was part of his plans and could start against Fulham.

Signing of the summer?

Arsène Wenger believes the erratic Gervinho has been “one of the signings of the summer”, but his record pales in comparison to these other new arrivals.

Sergio Agüero

The Manchester City striker has scored 10 goals since his £35 million summer move from Atletico Madrid.

Demba Ba

Despite concerns over his fitness, the Newcastle striker has scored eight Premier League goals after moving to Tyneside on a free transfer.

Yohan Cabaye

A key presence in Newcastle’s midfield during their remarkable start to the season, and a bargain at just £4.4 million.

Ashley Young

The England winger has been one of the stars of Manchester United’s season, providing six assists and scoring three himself.